The Mahtomedi Zephyrs secured a spot in the Class 2A girls’ soccer championship game after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Mankato East on October 29, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium. Despite trailing at halftime, the Zephyrs demonstrated resilience and teamwork, fueled by key contributions from senior players and a crucial defensive play.
Down 1-0 at the break, Mahtomedi turned the game around in the second half, primarily thanks to the efforts of Kayla Poirer. The senior midfielder assisted on both goals scored by teammates Lucy Peer and Elise Aflakpi within a span of just over three minutes. The victory sets up a championship match for the top-seeded Zephyrs (16-2-2) against either the No. 2 Blake or No. 3 Holy Angels at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
Coach Dave Wald emphasized the importance of attitude in his halftime message to the team. Having lost 11 seniors from last year’s championship squad, Mahtomedi faced challenges throughout the season, including injuries to key players like captain Allie Rippentrop, who made a limited return during the match, and North Dakota goalie commit Jacque Worden.
Wald remarked, “We’ve been kind of piecing it together all season. It hasn’t always been pretty, but these girls get it done. It’s hard; this is a tough situation, a lot of pressure, so I think we kind of played afraid in the first half. It’s in those big moments in the final third who’s going to have the attitude to get in there and do the dirty work. Today, Lucy and Elise did that.”
The turning point came in the 49th minute when Poirier delivered a well-placed cross that Peer converted on a rebound. Shortly after, Poirier executed a deft maneuver to evade a defender, setting up Aflakpi for a header that found the back of the net, elevating Mahtomedi to a 2-1 lead.
Aflakpi praised Poirier’s skill, stating, “Kayla has a really good foot and really good aim, especially on the corners. She’s just great at that.”
Mankato East took the lead in the first half with a goal from Mia Graff, who found the net in the 15th minute after her cross ricocheted off the far post. However, the Zephyrs’ defense, highlighted by the performance of freshman defender Olivia Boberg, proved crucial in maintaining their advantage. Boberg made an outstanding save after a point-blank shot, demonstrating quick reflexes to block a potential equalizer.
Reflecting on her pivotal moment, Boberg said, “All I knew was to keep the ball out, get back up and move it.”
As the championship match approaches, the Zephyrs aim to reclaim their title after defeating Holy Angels 2-0 in last year’s finale. The team’s determination and adaptability will be key as they prepare for their next challenge in the quest for back-to-back state championships.
